Biographies and Contacts

Command Staff

Captain Mark Cox was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and currently resides in St. Louis County with his wife and their two children. Captain Cox earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, School of Police Staff and Command, class 317.
He began his police training in August 1992 as a police recruit at the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy. Upon graduation from the police academy he was assigned to the South County Precinct where he served as a patrol officer and an alternate Field Training Instructor. In 1995, he was reassigned to the City of Fenton when they began a full service police contract with the St. Louis County Police Department. He served the City of Fenton as a patrol officer and a bicycle officer.
In 1998, he was transferred to the Bureau of Drug Enforcement in the Division of Criminal Investigation as a drug detective and a narcotics canine handler. As a detective, he worked with all of the investigative units and participated in all types of investigations including undercover, short-term, long-term, interdiction, methamphetamine and vice. He also served a three year detachment to the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Task Force Agent. As a Task Force Agent, he conducted investigations of illegal drugs destined for St. Louis that were prosecuted on the federal level. His investigations often lead him across the United States and on one occasion into Canada. He was a guest speaker of investigative techniques on numerous occasions at St. Louis University, UM-St. Louis and St. Charles Community College. As a canine handler, he handled three department canines that conducted countless searches for the department as well as numerous other local and federal law enforcement agencies in the St. Louis area. He and his canine partners were responsible for locating and seizing millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs and drug tainted U.S. Currency. They appeared at hundreds of public events throughout the St. Louis area. Captain Cox’s canine, Ceazar, received recognition from the German Shepherd Dog Club of St. Louis as the “Outstanding Controlled Substance Detection Canine” for an extraordinary, five consecutive years.
Captain Cox was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2006 and reassigned to the Affton Southwest Precinct as a watch supervisor.
In 2008, he was transferred to the Bureau of Professional Standards where he conducted administrative investigations into complaints of alleged misconduct by department employees. During this assignment he also conducted and supervised the background investigations of future police officers.
In 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to the South County Precinct where he served as a watch commander on the midnight shift.
In 2012, he was transferred to the Bureau of Drug Enforcement where he served as the Deputy Commander of the Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of 45 members from more than 10 different law enforcement agencies in addition to partnerships with several federal agencies.
In 2014, Captain Cox was promoted to his current rank and became the Commander of the Bureau of Staff Services assigned to police headquarters. The Bureau of Staff Services includes the Personnel Services Unit, Finance, Planning and Analysis, the Vehicle Supply Unit and the Office Services Unit.
In 2015, Captain Cox became the Commander of the Central County Precinct. The Central County Precinct is staffed with nearly 70 members of the department who provide police services to several municipalities who contract with the department as well as the unincorporated areas that span the middle of St. Louis County.
Captain Cox has received more than 90 awards, commendations and letters of appreciation. He has received in excess of 3,000 hours of training while serving on the St. Louis County Police Department.